Four Maoists killed in encounter along Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border
NEW DELHI: Four Maoists were killed in an encounter with police along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border in Gadchiroli on Friday, reported news agency PTI citing officials.
"Based on credible intelligence received about the presence of Maoist formations on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border near the recently opened FOB Kawande, an Ops led by Addnl SP Ramesh and 12 C60 parties (300 commandoes) and a component of CRPF was launched at noon yesterday from Kawande and Nelgunda towards the bank of Indravati amidst heavy rain in the area," Gadchiroli Police said.
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It further added: "This morning, Maoists started indiscriminate firing on C60 commandos, which led to effective retaliation by the forces. Intermittent exchange of fire continued for almost two hours, leading to the neutralisation of 4 Maoists."
The encounter is part of the government's effort to eliminate the red terror, as it comes days after a big breakthrough in the anti-Naxal operations that led to the elimination of topmost Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, better known as Basavaraju, along with 26 battle-hardened communist guerrillas in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur.
The 70-year-old was the mastermind behind some of the deadliest Maoist attacks, including the 2010 killing of 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the 2013 Jheeram Ghati massacre of 29, including several state Congress leaders.
The killing of Basavaraju, the general secretary (the topmost rank) of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), has not only rendered the organiation headless, but also taken away its chief military strategist who was known for his technical prowess, operational planning and violent disposition.
With 'Basavaraju's elimination' 10 months ahead of the March 2026 deadline set by the government to eliminate red terror, the end could come much sooner, according to a source.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the security forces for their 'remarkable success', while Union home minister Amit Shah called it a 'landmark achievement' in the government's anti-Naxal campaign.
Basavaraju's killing is the result of a massive operation that was launched on May 19 in the dense forests of Abhujmad, located at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh. A fierce gunfight ensued between the security forces and Maoist fighters, leading to the death of 27 Naxals on May 21.
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